ATLANTA -- A crackdown on students skipping school has sent nine DeKalb County parents to jail.

Court records show the parents were arrested Tuesday and made their first court appearances Wednesday in Recorders Court.

Authorities said they have obtained arrest warrants for 59 people.

The county's school systems and court officials have expanded the prosecution of parents for violating Georgia's school attendance law, which requires all children ages 7-16 to attend school.

Parents can be arrested on a charge of educational neglect after their children have at least 12 unexcused absences in a school year.

Some of the hooky-playing students have missed 40-50 days of school.